It’s Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends

＂In their previous landmark volumes . . . Harris and Emberley established themselves as the purveyors of reader-friendly, straightforward information on human sexuality for readers as young as seven. Here they successfully tackle the big questions . . . for even younger kids.＂ -- The Horn Book (starred review)

Young children are curious about almost everything, especially their bodies. And young children are not afraid to ask questions. What makes me a girl? What makes me a boy? Why are some parts of girls’ and boys’ bodies the same and why are some parts different? How was I made? Where do babies come from? Is it true that a stork brings babies to mommies and daddies?

It’s Not the Stork! helps answer these endless and perfectly normal questions that preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school children ask about how they began. Through lively, comfortable language and sensitive, engaging artwork, Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley address readers in a reassuring way, mindful of a child’s healthy desire for straightforward information. Two irresistible cartoon characters, a curious bird and a squeamish bee, provide comic relief and give voice to the full range of emotions and reactions children may experience while learning about their amazing bodies. Vetted and approved by science, health, and child development experts, the information is up-to-date, age-appropriate, and scientifically accurate, and always aimed at helping kids feel proud, knowledgeable, and comfortable about their own bodies, about how they were born, and about the family they are part of.
Back matter includes an index.

ROBIE H. HARRIS began her career as a teacher at the Bank Street College of Education’s School for Children. She started writing books for children in the 1970s and has numerous titles to her credit. Among them are the award-winning and internationally acclaimed books about sexual health for older children: IT’S SO AMAZING! A BOOK ABOUT EGGS, SPERM, BIRTH, BABIES, AND FAMILIES for children age seven and up and IT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL: CHANGING BODIES, GROWING UP, SEX, AND SEXUAL HEALTH for children age ten and up, which won her the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association Award for Outstanding Educator. She is also the well-known author of HAPPY BIRTH DAY!, HI NEW BABY!, and three picture books in the Growing Up series, all illustrated by Michael Emberley, as well as GOODBYE MOUSIE, illustrated by Jan Ormerod, and DON’T FORGET TO COME BACK!, illustrated by Harry Bliss.

MICHAEL EMBERLEY is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. He is the illustrator of many books for children, including several collaborations with Robie H. Harris: IT’S SO AMAZING, IT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL, HAPPY BIRTH DAY!, HI NEW BABY!, and three picture books in the Growing Up series, books that tell stories and facts about the first five years of life.